Miranda DiGerolamo: Leading with a Servant's Heart

70 backpacks was the goal. Miranda DiGerolamo had something bigger in mind.

For three years, Miranda has been part of Saint Joseph Academy's Project Backpack. What began as an opportunity to help others became, this year, a chance for Miranda to step forward as a leader — and she embraced it wholeheartedly.

A scholar-athlete, dedicated field hockey player and one of the captains this year, and soon-to-be Ursinus College student-athlete, Miranda has always understood that leadership is about more than standing at the front. It is about serving others, bringing people together, and recognizing that even a small act of kindness can make a lasting difference.

This year, Miranda had the opportunity to lead Project Backpack after spending the previous two years as a helper.

"It was especially meaningful to me because, after being a helper for the past two years, I had the opportunity to lead Project Backpack," Miranda shared. "Being the leader showed me how rewarding it is, while also teaching me how much hard work and dedication it takes to lead a project like this."

And Miranda didn't simply accept the leadership role — she took ownership of it.

Miranda Saw an Opportunity to Do More

The original goal for Project Backpack was to collect 70 backpacks.

Miranda believed the SJA community could do more.

She rallied her SJA Girls Field Hockey teammates, friends, family, and members of the community and raised the goal to 100 backpacks. Along the way, she raised more than $700, helping purchase many of the supplies needed to fill the backpacks.

Her leadership helped turn an idea into a movement.

And then something incredible happened.

100 became 128.

The Saint Joseph Academy community ultimately collected and filled 128 backpacks, exceeding the original goal by 58 backpacks.

For Miranda, the achievement was never really about the number. It was about the people who came together to make it happen and, most importantly, the children who would receive the backpacks.

"What helped us go above and beyond was the generosity of our amazing community at SJA," Miranda said. "Without all the help from students, staff, the Field Hockey team, my family and friends, The Mother Cabrini Lodge, and most importantly Mrs. LaRosa, none of this would have been possible."

The Moment Miranda Saw the Difference

After weeks of planning, collecting supplies, organizing donations, and preparing for the packing day, Miranda finally had the opportunity to see the impact of the project firsthand.

Delivering the backpacks was the most rewarding part.

"It was amazing to see where they are actually going and how much of a difference this will make for the children," she said.

That moment captured what motivates Miranda to serve in the first place.

For her, service isn't about receiving recognition. It's about knowing that something she helped organize could make another person's life a little better.

The 128 backpacks were delivered to the SSJ Neighborhood Center and Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, two beloved SJA community partners. Additional school supplies were also donated to the Hammonton Family Success Center and Spring Village Assisted Living's School Supply Drive, allowing Miranda's efforts to reach even more members of the community.

A Servant Leader in Action

Project Backpack is only one part of Miranda's commitment to serving others.

Mrs. LaRosa, Director of Servant Leadership at Saint Joseph Academy, has watched Miranda's servant leadership grow since the moment she arrived at SJA.

"From the moment I arrived at Saint Joseph Academy, Miranda was one of the first students I met," Mrs. LaRosa shared. "She immediately jumped into serving others. Not just with the backpacks but with everything."

Miranda has volunteered at nursing homes, assisting residents with bingo, and has served at the soup kitchen in Camden. Whether she is working with her field hockey teammates, helping younger students, serving the elderly, or supporting families in need, Miranda consistently looks for ways to make a difference.

"She's got a sincere servant heart, and I know that she will carry this through for many years to come," Mrs. LaRosa said. "She has inspired a lot of students and adults at SJA, and I'm very proud of her."

That servant heart is what made Miranda's leadership of Project Backpack so meaningful.

She didn't just organize backpacks. She inspired people to give.

She didn't just set a goal. She challenged people to dream bigger.

And she didn't just lead a project. She showed others what servant leadership looks like.

Lessons Miranda Will Take to College

As Miranda prepares to graduate from Saint Joseph Academy and continue her academic and athletic journey at Ursinus College, she is taking more than memories from Project Backpack with her.

She is taking lessons in leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and service.

"Through Project Backpack, I learned that leadership takes hard work and teamwork," Miranda explained. "I also learned how rewarding it is to work together to serve others and make a difference in their lives."

Those lessons will follow her to college.

Miranda hopes to use what she has learned at SJA to create or lead a similar service project on her college campus — continuing a tradition of using her time, talents, and leadership to help others.

"As I head to college, I hope to take the leadership and teamwork skills I learned from Project Backpack and use them to organize a service project that can make a positive impact on others."

More Than 128 Backpacks

At the end of Project Backpack, 128 backpacks filled Mrs. LaRosa's pickup truck from top to bottom.

But the real measure of Miranda's impact cannot be counted in backpacks.

It is measured in the people she inspired to participate.

It is measured in the teammates who joined her.

It is measured in the families and community members who donated.

It is measured in the children who will receive a backpack and know that someone cared enough to help them.

And it is measured in the example Miranda has set for the SJA community.

Miranda saw a need. She stepped forward. She brought people together. And she made a difference.

That is servant leadership.

As she prepares to take the next step in her journey as a scholar-athlete at Ursinus, Miranda leaves behind a powerful reminder for all of us at Saint Joseph Academy:

You don't have to wait for someone else to lead. Sometimes, leadership simply begins with seeing a need — and choosing to serve.

70 was the goal. 100 became the challenge. 128 became the reality.

And behind it all was a young woman with a sincere servant heart who believed we could do more.

Thank you, Miranda, for leading the way.

Shaping hearts. Inspiring action.